Right steps taken toward habitat protection for North Atlantic whales

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that it will revise critical habitat for North Atlantic right whales, an endangered species that clings to survival with less than 400 individuals remaining. The action comes in response to a federal lawsuit filed earlier this year by The Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

The lawsuit challenged the agency’s failure to respond to the groups’ August 2009 petition, which sought to expand current critical habitat protections because areas located off the coast of New England and the Georgia/Florida border are inadequate to provide for the recovery of the whales. The government’s announcement today confirmed that the need to expand protected areas and indicated that the agency will propose new boundaries next year.

“Critical habitat ensures precautions are taken when potentially dangerous activities like oil drilling and commercial shipping are being planned and carried out,” said Sierra Weaver, attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “Because these animals share our busy Atlantic Coastal waters, we need to make sure that risky activities in the places they call home aren’t going to hinder their ability to return to a sustainable population.”

“Protecting key calving and migration habitat is essential to the continued survival of this species,” said Sarah Uhlemann, Staff Attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “With a population of only 400 animals, every whale – and every square mile of protected habitat – counts.”

“You can’t protect a species without also protecting what it needs to survive” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Senior Biologist for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. “Current Critical Habitat boundaries are akin to protecting our children in certain areas of their schools and specific rooms in their homes with no protection for them as they move between home and school. What we need is full protection in the areas where right whales feed, calve and the migratory route between those areas.”     

“We are delighted the administration is moving to protect critical habitat for right whales without further delay,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, Vice President and Chief Counsel for The Humane Society of the United States. “This is a crucial step forward on the path to recovery for one of the world’s most endangered animals.”

Background:

• Right whales migrate from their calving grounds off the Southeastern U.S. to their feeding grounds off the Northeastern U.S. and Canada.  Adult female right whales reproduce slowly – reaching reproductive maturity at around age 8 and giving birth to one calf every four years.

• The only known calving ground for North Atlantic right whales is off the coast of Georgia and Florida, with documented births outside of the area currently designated as critical habitat. In 2008, 18 of 19 newborn calves documented were in areas just outside of the protected area.

• Each year female right whales die from being hit by ships or entanglement in commercial fishing gear in unprotected areas.  In one 18 month period, three pregnant females and their full-term young died after being hit by ships outside of their critical habitat.

• Although the Endangered Species Act requires that the government respond to petitions within 90 days of their receipt, the Fisheries Service did not respond to the August 2009 petition until this week, after a lawsuit was filed to compel their response.

Learn more about how Defenders is working to protect the critically endangered right whale. 

Contact(s):

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.